Athoor Falls- a Hike Through Some of Tamil Nadu’s Unspoiled Wilderness

view of the mountains

an easier path…

We jumped in the jeep wrangler.  It was a two-seat jeep but there was a metal bench on each side of the rear and also a ramp that could be pulled down hanging off the back.  We started off down a rough, bumpy dirt road until we reached a point where the vegetation grew thick and the road continued forward no more.  Words were spoken in Tamil, and then we got out of the Jeep.

green mountain

walking through the vegetation

Following our guide, we started our trek through the thick vegetation.  There were beautiful flowers and green bushes, many of them with thorns that liked to poke you if you weren’t quite aware.   Up and around us the whole way giant mountain peaks reached for the sky, covered in a lush tropical green.  Deep breaths filled our lungs with clean air and an earthy smell.   We pushed our way further and deeper into this flourishing wilderness, and I imagined India as it once must have been, before deforestation and construction and overpopulation.

enjoying the view

Here nature still rules the day.  It wasn’t hard to imagine jungle animals around every corner.  We made our way up empty stone stream beds, pushed aside colorful flower filled branches, and ducked under canopies of branches.

waterfalls

waterfall closeup

We finally heard the sound of running water, and no too long after broke through the trees to find a beautiful bubbling waterfall with large slippery rocks all around.  We climbed about the rocks, quickly getting drenched but enjoying every minute of it in this private tropical paradise.  Bathing in waterfalls is very important to Tamil culture, and we particularly loved this aspect of tradition.

very slippery!

beautiful, clean water

waterfalls

walking out

view of the lake